CLASS II. AVES: ORDER 1. RAPTORES. 



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THE EUROPEAN SPAHROW-nAWK. 



row-IIawk, ^4. tachiro ; the Red-bellied Hawk, A. ru/iventrifi; t\mlioor>ET> JIxwk, A. ^jHeatus ; 

 the Madagascar Hawk, A. Madar/ascariensis ; the New Holland Sparrow-IIawk, yl. cirro- 

 cephalus ; and the Australian Goshawk, A, approximanr . 



The American species are as follows : the American Brown Hawk, or Sharp-shinned Hawk, 

 or Chicken-Hawk, A. fitscus, twelve to fourteen inches long; very common thronghont North 

 America: Cooper's Hawk, ^d. Coo/)fi?-//, eighteen to twenty inches long; dark ashy-brown above, 

 but subject to great varieties of color ; found all over the United States : and the Mexican Black- 

 capped Hawk, A. Mexlcanus, fifteen to seventeen inches long ; dark brownish-black above, be- 

 neath light rufous ; common in Mexico. 



Genus POLIORNIS : Foliornis. — Under this genus the British Museuni Catalogue presents 

 the following species: the Teesa Hawk, P. Teesa ; the Pale Hawk, P. liventer ; the Gray- 

 cheeked Hawk, P. Tndlcus ; and the Dark-cheeked Hawk, P. pyrrlwyenys. 



Gcmis GERANOSPIZA : Oeranospiza^ according to the same authority, includes the Slender 

 Hawk, G. gracilis. 



Genus MICRASTUR : Micrastur, also, according to the preceding authority, includes the 

 Pied Sparrow-Hawk, M. brachypterus ; the Yellow-necked Hawk, M. xanthothorax ; and the 

 (JoNCENTRicAL Sparrow-Hawk, M. concentricus. 



Genus MICRONISUS : Micronisus, according to the same authority, includes the Soolo 

 Falcon, M. Soloensis ; France's Sparrow-Hawk, M. Francesii ; Brown's Hawk, M. hadius; 

 the Short-toed Sparrow-Hawk, jIT. sphenurus ; the Red-legged Falcon, M. Gahar ; the Sin- 

 c.LE-STREAKED Hawk, M. monogrammicus. 



Genus MELIERAX : Mclierax. — This includes the Chanting Hawk, M. musicus, found in 

 Africa; it, is ash-colored above and white, rayed with brown, beneath; lives on rabbits, rats, 

 inoles, mice, quails, and partridges, and makes its nests on trees. The sexes pair for life ; during 

 incubation the male turns musician, and sings by day and night. Each strain occupies about a 

 minute, when he pauses for a time and then begins again. He is so absorbed while singing that 

 he may be approached, though at other times exceedingly shy. Levaillant having killed a male 

 bird, the female searched for him on all sides, uttering piteous cries ; in another case, having killed 

 a female, the husband mounted to the tops of the trees and poured out a mingled strain of lamen- 

 tation and defiance. 



Genus CYMINDIS : Cymindis. — This includes two species, the Cayenne Falcon, C. Cayen- 

 nensis, and the Crook-billed Falcon, C. uncinatus, both of South America, and both resem- 

 bling the buzzards. 



Genus CIRCAETUS : Circaetus. — This includes several species intermediate between the buz- 

 zards and eagles. The Jean-le-Blanc Eagle, C. Gallicus, is common over all Europe ; its wings 



